Lee sits for seventh straight game

If Brian Lee is starting to feel a little deja vu, it’s not at all surprising.
The 24-year-old Ottawa Senator defenceman was scratched for the seventh straight game on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins.
That’s nothing compared to last year, when then coach-Cory Clouston embarrassingly scratched him for 25 straight games and 27 out of 28.
But it’s nonetheless not what Lee envisioned for himself when he started the season.
Coach Paul MacLean gave Lee the bad news at the end of the morning skate, and later said he felt bad about it. It’s not what MacLean wants for Lee, either.
The problem is that the team is on a six-game winning streak. How can he take anyone out?
“I’ve thought about it for the last three games, about playing Brian Lee,” said MacLean.
“Somehow it’s easier to change the fourth line. The defensive pairs have been playing so well that we just feel we can’t do it at this time.
“But believe me, I ask the question everyday: Can we put Brian Lee in the lineup today?
“The only one who says yes is me, but I can’t get enough support for it. But the (defensive) pairs are playing very well and that’s the reason.”
It’s only going to get more complicated when Matt Carkner returns. He’s begun to skate again, but his right knee is still a long way from being ready to take on NHL forwards.
That gives general manager Bryan Murray some breathing room, but sooner or later he’ll have to think about making some roster moves, since he can’t carry two extra defencemen.
Unless he can make a trade, he might have to send someone to the minors and eat an NHL salary.

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